Jose at his 2022 graduation. Photo Credit: CCNY.
Upon graduating as the 2022 valedictorian of the Grove School of Engineering, Ryan Jose left with more than a mechanical engineering degree. Through a rich range of research, internships and campus leadership, Jose built a foundation that prepared him for a career dedicated to improving quality and reliability in the aerospace industry. Today, as a quality engineer at Collins Aerospace, he contributes to products supporting NASA’s Artemis missions while continuing to pursue his long-term goal of advancing engineering design and manufacturing.
At CCNY, he found opportunities to combine his passion for engineering with a commitment to service. His interest in mechanical engineering began much earlier through childhood curiosity.
“I was interested in mechanical engineering because of science shows I grew up watching, such as “How It’s Made” and “MythBusters,” Jose said. “These shows helped me realize that I want to be an engineer one day, and I really enjoyed seeing things taken apart along with the experimental process of coming up with solutions to problems.”
As he considered colleges, CCNY stood out for several reasons. Through the Macaulay Honors College, the Grove School’s research reputation, its location in the city and its diverse student body, Jose found an environment that aligned with both his academic and professional goals.
“All these reasons helped me graduate in 4 years with a debt-free launch into my engineering career,” Jose said.
While pursuing his degree, he immersed himself in campus life beyond the classroom. He served as president of the CCNY Chapter of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and assistant program manager for Engineers Without Borders. These experiences strengthened both his leadership skills and his connection to the broader engineering community.
“Being involved in student organizations helped me both professionally and personally,” Jose said. “From a professional perspective, I was able to broaden my network through my leadership involvement in these organizations… Personally, it gave me a boost in confidence, strengthened my overall communication/presentation skills, and helped me drive meaningful impact with the help of great teamwork.”
Jose also sought experiences outside the classroom through internships, undergraduate research and community service. During his time at CCNY, he completed internships and participated in research while volunteering with the Peer Health Exchange, the Macaulay Service Initiative and the CCNY Makerspace. Together, those experiences helped prepare him for the transition from student to professional engineer.
“Internships and research helped me explore industries I was interested in and gave me a feel for the working environment and meeting project deliverables,” Jose said. “By being involved in areas beyond technical fields, I gained experience with general social interactions, being a team player, and understanding the why behind every volunteering organization’s mission.”
After graduating, Jose joined Collins Aerospace, where he has spent the past four years working in Quality Assurance and Mission Assurance. His work goes beyond product inspection, he focuses on improving manufacturing processes, identifying the root causes of quality issues, and developing long-term solutions that enhance product reliability.
Jose with his work colleagues. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Jose.
A typical day involves reviewing production data, collaborating with engineering and manufacturing teams, investigating defects and implementing corrective actions that help ensure products meet both organizational and aerospace industry standards.
“What excites me most about my work is the fact that it is mission-driven and I get to work on critical products for environmental life support for NASA astronauts,” Jose said. “This is an amazing part of my job and something that I constantly remind myself of when I work.”
Looking ahead, Jose hopes to build on both his engineering experience and his master’s degree in engineering management by transitioning into a technical product leadership role. His long-term interests remain rooted in product design and manufacturing, areas that first inspired him to pursue mechanical engineering.
“Over the next few years, I want to use my Master’s in Engineering Management degree to help me land a technical product lead role within the company,” he said. “I am really interested in product design and manufacturing and hope to transfer to this discipline of engineering in the long term.”
Reflecting on his journey from CCNY to Collins Aerospace, Jose credits his experience at the college with helping him take the first transformative steps toward his career. In particular, he points to the support he received from the Career and Professional Development Institute (CPDI) and its senior associate director, Rhea Faniel, whose mentorship helped prepare him for the opportunities that followed graduation.
“It feels amazing to be a part of a company like Collins Aerospace directly out of graduation,” Jose said. “CCNY helped me land this career opportunity, particularly the CPDI and Rhea Faniel, who spent countless hours invested in me and my professional growth.”
For current City College students, Jose’s advice is to make the most of every opportunity the university offers. Whether through research, internships, or student organizations, he believes those experiences provide the foundation for both personal and professional growth.
“If you put your mind, attitude, and energy toward something, you will reap the rewards of your effort,” Jose said. “Enjoy your undergraduate years at CCNY, get involved with student organizations, build new experiences, and most importantly, have a blast!”
Sofia is a graduate student at CUNY Brooklyn College, where she’s pursuing her M.S. in Media Studies. Her work centers on cultural affairs, capturing people’s lived experiences, and producing work that is not only compelling and polished but also intentional, inclusive, and aligned with meaningful public impact. In addition to writing for The RICC, she’s a dedicated writer for the Brooklyn News Service.